Capital sunset. There are few places I love more than this incredible city. 

(You've Got Mail)

what to get a college grad

Turn the tassels and toss the caps- it's that time of year again! Cannot believe it's been an entire year since I walked across that stage (and then gracefully tripped down the steps). Here's a quick list of a few thoughtful gifts for your college graduate... keep in mind that this list is coming form a sentimental SEC gal...

Stationery (classic & simple, like this William Arthur design)

Engraved keepsake (like the Sophia Medallion by Mark & Graham)

Anything related to their alma mater (Go Gators... Mariposa gator bottle opener)

Something practical (Smartphone Wallet by mochithings)

Something utterly unpractical (just for fun)

A watch to wear to work (something like the Slim Runway Watch)

Football tickets at their alma mater (demonstrates how much you REALLY love the graduate)

A book with an inscription (city travel guides, books that inspire...)

Green (you really can't go wrong with that one)

Photos by Matt Pendleton Photography- He and his team were great!

Wandering and wishing for world peace in Fairchild Tropical Garden. Part rainforest, part palm desert, part Alice in Wonderland, all nestled onto 83 acres in Coral Gables. The Garden mixes botanical science and art, with Chihuly sculptures dancing among lily pads and beautiful orchids climbing up trees every which-way. My favorite was the whimsy Cannonball Tree, usually found in South America and the Caribbean.

books & plane tickets

My newest mantra.

a quarry query

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver

I'm a chicken. A really big chicken. So I almost missed out on this adventure. Almost. I guess I need to point out how thankful I am for friends that can convince me to live a little every once and a while.

wonderfully made

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

prairie

These photos were snapped while wandering through Payne's Prairie in Gainesville last Spring. It's a really neat and easily accessible nature escape. One of my favorite spots to go think and read is the observation deck just off US441 south of Gainesville. I've seen wild horses and lots of gators out there (the human and reptile kind).

creepy plant

This plant has always creeped me out. I don't know what it's called and I don't care.

I'm gone to carolina in my mind

Sippin' on a Cheerwine, hands full of fresh blueberries, Smokey Mountain crisp mist making my cheeks tingle just a bit- there's no place like this place. A place where it's okay to have really muddy shoes, where roads whimsically wind and weave high above the woods, and the people are even sweeter than the tea. These photos were taken this past summer in southwestern North Carolina. It's been a part of my family's summer ritual since forever.

When I was little, the mountains kind of scared me. Black bears and big bumblebees aside, they just seemed too untamed and free. But can anything be too free? I often become fixated on rules and familiar things, squirming uncomfortably at freedom. Scandalous freedom. The mountains are good for me. I am free. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Adventures worthy of note near western North Carolina: the Nantahala River, Stoney Hallow Farm, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, the Virginia Creeper Trail, Linville Gorge, the mile-high bridge on Grandfather Mountain...

sailing in captiva

Wandering along the water on the New Moon in Captiva this summer... what a dream. NEW MOON SAILING

PS- If you ever find yourself in the area, make reservations and watch the sun set at the Mad Hatter!

rainy day

I really love rainy days. But they're terribly inconvenient when you are itching for an adventure with two out-of-town amigas. So, we decided to go downtown and give the museum a go. Apart from us, every museum patron was well below the age of ten or accompanying someone well below the age of ten. Lya didn't like the geckos. Or turtles. It was a  really wonderful afternoon.

abandoning room 3

This is a formal farewell to Room 3. Adios, it's been quite a fantastic year.

I've memorized the location of every one of your creaky old boards that lurk innocently beneath the carpet. I can navigate around those squeaky roommate-waking mines quite well now. Goodbye slamming sundeck doors, humming kitchenette ice machine, and neighborly busboys singing in the afternoon. Ciao to everyday sleepovers with my dearest friends and happy hour mocha milkshake runs.

A year in this old house amounts to:

An addiction to Downton Abbey and New Girl

A stolen/borrowed projection screen (for gator football and presidential debates)

A midnight miracle ice cream gallon topped with smashed oreos

Spontaneity, shared secrets, and a hidden time capsule

Studying for my truly final final exams

Frantic job searching and rants of hopeless confusion

Many mysteriously absent frosted animal crackers...

Shared closets and last minute dress swaps

Regular ruckus around 2:15am

A firm no-knocking policy

Way too much online shopping

Cheerwine spilt on just about everything (sorry Room 1)

Countless fits of uncontrollable laughter (thanks Room 1)

...

And tremendous thankfulness

Pillow fabric from Boca Bargoons- Easy DIY monogrammed pillow made with iron-on adhesive

oh deer

Wandering in Lake Placid, FL at Henscratch Ranch: One of the young deer was so enthralled with the scattered corn that it let me creep up close and its soft panting blew dirt onto my camera lens. When it finally decided I was too close for comfort it clumsily leapt back on funny knobby knees and shot me a wide-eyed gaze of mistrust (see photo below).

I know it's been quite a while since I've updated Wanderings- I've been enjoying my final sweet weeks at the greatest university in the entire world. Expect more photos from my wanderings this year soon!

studying in florence

Whenever I hear someone mention they're thinking of studying abroad, I usually interrupt them with "DO IT." Whatever city you're drawn to, GO. You will learn so much. There is no better investment you can make in your education than a semester or summer out of your comfort zone.

Disclaimer: Florence is drenched with American students, in particular American girls, during the summer. If you're looking to learn the language, study in a smaller city where locals will actually speak Italian to you. However, if you're looking for a hub of adventure, history, art, and culture, Florence is a dream.

Using the Arno or Duomo as north stars, it was easy to scuttle about the city to stumble upon obscure map shops and leather goods that were much more reasonably priced than the touristy markets. I often explored smaller roads in an attempt to cut across the city and avoid tourists, who predictably and suddenly would come to a stop in the middle of a road to take a photo of one obscure thing or another.

We hiked up the Poggi Ramps quite a few times to enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo (see first photo above). This is an especially amazing place to watch the sunset behind the city; people sit along the west-facing steps and enjoy a bottle of wine with friends and new acquaintances while witnessing the sun's beautiful daily ritual. You can take in the entirety of the historic city from this one spot.

Why spend a few Euros to climb the Duomo? Because seeing it from the outside is amazing but climbing up the winding steps along the inner shell of the dome and admiring The Last Judgement up close is mind-boggling. The use of perspective is so neat- you'd never know from the sanctuary below, but up close the scene is grossly disproportional.

If you can only spend one day in Florence, make it June 24th. It's the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, Florence's patron saint. All sorts of events are planned throughout the day, including a  procession of the entire clergy of the Duomo. In the evening, stake out a spot on the banks of the Arno River for the best view of the fireworks and then the most magical lantern send off.

A short to-do list for Florence:

Get lost

Rent bikes

Climb the Duomo

Piazzale Michelangelo (during the day & at sunset)

Boboli Gardens

Uffizi & Academia Galleries

San Lorenzo Mercato Centrale in Piazza dell Mercato

Best eats and treats in Florence:

Gusta Pizza

The Oil Shoppe (Best sandwiches. Ever.)

Gelateria on the Arno (sounds strange, but try the sesame flavor)

Napo Leone (amazing spot for dinner, away from the tourists)

Take a quick train from Florence to:

Milan

Venice

Cinque Terre (absolutely must- check out my previous post about the area)

Pisa (try to go for Luminara of San Ranieri, on the evening of June 16th)